Variable-speed gearing.



' w. s. HARLEY. I VARIABLE SPEED GEA'BING. A'nmqumn nun Inn. 1911:.

Patented Dec 20, 1910.

' wanna-mun,

w. s. HARLEY. v VARIABLE SPEED BEARING.

LPPLIOATIOI FILED MAY 17. 1910.

Patented'Dea20, 1918 G SHEETS-511E212.

ml nmu Mun cu, wumnovo Ac.

w. s. HARLEY. I VARIABLE SPEED GEARIHG. APPLIOATIOH TILED MAY 17. 1810.

Pzitented Bea 20,1910:-

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

z V I 1n: NGIIII rnrn n, vnmnamu A c w. 8. HARLEY. VARIABLE SPEED swamp. APPLIOATIOIIILED IA! 11. 1810.

Patented Deu 20,1 910- .4- anus-sun 4.

I noun l-l rln to, null WILLIAM S. HARLEY. P MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

VARIABLE-SPEED GEARING.

Application filed May 17,1910. Serial No. 561.792.

T 0 all whom it ma y concern: I

Be it known that I, 'naaxu S. HARLEY,

' a citizen of the United States. and re ident of Milwaukee. in the county of l\lilwaukee and State of \l'isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variclare that the following is a .full. clear. and exact description thereof.

The object of my invention is. to provide a simple. effective and durable variable speed gearing in connection with drive and driven members. through the. drive member of which engine-power is transmitted to the driven member at high on low speed. the gearing being also provided with a series; of friction brake elements in connection therewith. llotlr the speed gearing and brake elements are under foot pedal control. which control is accomplislu-d through a series: of independent nmvcments thereof. wherebythe engine may be started by. an initial forward v'pcdal action. after which the engine-connet-ted drive-member picks up the driven member in the usual manner. The second operation accomplished through a slight back pedal movement that frees the engine, and a furtherbackward motion of the pedals causes coupling of a back gear connection.

whereby the drive member will impart low speed to the driven member. while still a further back movement of the pedals throws into clutch an emergency brake. whereby the ,engine and vehicle are stopped by the overload.

My invention as illustrated is applied to a motorcycle. the drive member in this instance being represented as the hub of a pulley which is loosely mounted upon the stationary axle of thc'rear or drive wheel. the pulley being arranged in belt connection with an explosive engine in the usual manner. The drive member in this instance is the hub of the rear wheel of the vehicle, which hub. like the hub of the pulley. is loosely mounted upon the axle and adapted to be connected or disconnected to'the pulley hub b \"su.itable pedal movements.

.Yith the above objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiarities'of construction and combination of )tll'tS as fully set forth hereinafter with.reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed. 7

In the drawings Figure 1 re )l"t tlll f tl full size cross-section of a variable speed gear- Specification of Letters Patent.

'lat ent ed Dec.

ing mechanism. embodying the features of my invention. with certain parts in full lines. to more clearly illustrate the structural features. the section being indicated by line 11 of Figs. 2 and 4: Fig. 2. a sectional I elevation of the same taken upon four difable-Speed Hearing: and 1 do hereby (lefercnt planes as indicated by lines 2 2", "2

and i -respcctively of Fig. 1; Fig. a sectional elevation with parts broken awa as indicated by line :54: of Fig. 1, and Fig. a side elevation of a portion of a motorcycle apon a reduced scale. embodying the features of my invention.

Referring by characters to the drawing,

1 represents a tun-rotatory axle mounted in over the cone -l. having interposed therebe- I tween a series of ball bearings t. This cup carrtes the usual sprocket-\vheel 9 and has an inwardly extending sleeve 10, towhich Sleeve there is secured a threaded section 11.

upon which is loosely mounted a nut- 12 having tapered friction faces 13.v 13. The.

friction face 13 is adapted to engage an internal friction face It of a circular block 15, which block is lt)():(l mounted upon a shell 16. that in turn supliort'ed by head 17. The head 17 is fitted upon the axle and provided with ail-extension which overhangs and interlocks -the. flattened endv of the cup sleeve (3. wherebv said head is held against rotation. The shell 1t) that is mounted upon the head is held against 1'0 tation thereon by mean of pins 18. which extend from the head and project through slots in the shell. whereby said shell may be adjusted longitudinally with relation to the head. Block 13 is also capable of longitudinal movement upon the. shell and is likewise held again t rotation by means of the )ins 19. that also extend into slots 19 of the block. Movement of said block upon the shell in a lateral direction is controlled by terminal flanges 20 and 2t of-the. shell. the block being normally held against the flange 21' bya coiled spring .22. which coiled sn'ing is seated within an annular recess of the block 15 and adapted to exert pressure upon the shell flange J0. said spring being under an approximate normal pressure, for

artprovided with inturncd flanges it. it,

dislt 24 through anti-friction balls inter-' posed therebet'ween. which halls are seated within aretaining-collar 25. The nut/12 carries one or more leaf springs 26, for engagement with the friction face 14 of the head, whereby a slight pressure is exerted upon said nut to hold the same against rotation when acted upon by the rotation of the nut in either direction. The cup T is also provided with an exterior ball-race 27 for a series of'an-ti-friction balls that serve as a bearing for a cup-member 28, which member formsthehuh of a rotatory hearinghead 29. The cup-member 28 is also provided with an internal friction face 30 that is adapted to engage the friction face 15 of the nut. The bearing-head :29 is connected to the web portion 31 of a pulley-hub 32 by two series of tie-bolts. one series being indicated by the character 33, and the other series by the characters 34, 349, the said web portion of the pulley being provided with an intnrned threaded flange 35 for the re ception of a cup 35, between which cup and the cone 5 a series of anti-friction halls are interposed. which balls, in conjunction with the opposite series, form journals for the connected bau-ing-head 29 and pulley-hub.

The cone 5 is held against rotation upon the axle through an arm 36 that is suitably connected to the forked tube 3. A bearing ring 37 is fitted to the flange 35 of the pulley-hub and a similar bearing-ring 38 is fitted to the overhung extension of head 17 and upon these bearing-rings there is loosely mounted a toothed gear-wheel 39, the hub of which gear-wheel is recessed for the reception of a series of friction rings 40 that are rotativcly held in connection with the gear-wheel through a feather 41, that projects into notches of said rings, this connection permitting free lateral movement thereof. itcorresponding HI'ICS of friction rings 42 are in spline connection with the sleeve (1 of cone 5. these rings being alter natcly interpo ed between the rings '40, whereby the gear-wheel may be frictionally locked against rotation. the first ring-"42 of the non-rotatory series being adapted to shoulder against lugs 43 of said sleeve.

thus the cup connection together with the.

pulley-hub is free to turn irrespective of the movement of the dislts.

The pulley-hub 23-2 and bearing-head "29 for the support of beating-rings 4.), 45", upon which bearing-rin s is loosely mounted a wheel-huh in. it being understood that the pulley-hub and whccl hub are each provided with spoke flanges. to which-are secured by suitabl arranged spoke'eonnection the usual pulley and spoke rims 47 and 48 respectively; as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, thesaid' pulltylmb and wheelltub constituting drive and driven members mesh with the gear-wheel 39.

The disk :24, which, as previously stated is adapted to be moved in one direction by the circular block 15, is apertured at intervals to permit the two series of tie-bolts to pass tberethrough. the said disk being suspended and guided upon these bolts E ch bolt has fitted thereon adjacent to the bearing-head o the first of a series of friction rings 53 is fitted. the rings being slidably mounted upon the two series of tie-bolts, between the collar 5:? and disk 24, which bolts pass through. apertures therein.

The. series of friction rings 54 which co-act with the friction rings are alternately interposed between said friction rings 53, the latter series being arranged to rotate with the wheel-hub :lti. by which they are supported and rctatively connected through feathers 5.) that project from the interior all of said wheel-hub. Similar alternate sets of friction rings 56 and 57 are arranged upon the opposite side of the disk 24, the series 56 being rotatively mounted with relation to the wheel-hub while the series 57, which is interl'ocltcd therewith. correspond to the previously mentioned series 5 being guided upon and rotatably mounted with the tie-bolts. The last ring 57 of this series is shouldered against collars 58 of the tie-bolts 34, 34. the said last ring being arranged to oppose the series when lcngitudinal movement is imparted thereto for producing a frictional lock. The friction ring .57" and its series 57, are each provided with enlarged circular apertures through which thimbles .35 extend. The bottoms of these thimbles are adapted to engage the adjacent surface of the disk '24. the thinibles being mounted upon the tiebolts 3 and seated within said thimbles are coiled springs (it). whereby cud thrust of the rings is talten and which springs surround said tie-rods. being i ntcrpo-'ed between the bottom of the aforesaid thimhles and shoulders of the. tlanged portion of the pulley-hub. A. hand controlled band-lu'alte is also provided in cenncction with the wheelhub. said mccbanism being in the form of a two-part band til. having a hinge connection the baud being :nlaptcd to cngagc the inner face of-tbe wheel-bulf exterior of the bcaringhead 29. The FH'lltJlS of the band arc held free of v the lmb surface by a coiled spring (3 which a spm-ing-collar 52, against which collar is connected to the hinged members. The handbrake is inclosed by a non rotatory dust cap (32. which is titted to the end of the hub. the dustcap being provided with an apertured boss. through which a stud (33 extends. The stud is oscillatorily mounted in a fixed bearing-bracket (3-1. which bearing bracket is secured to the adjacent forked tube 2. The inner end of the stud carrics'a shoe 65. that is arranged to oppose the oppo site terminals of the handbrake sections. whereby said hand-brake is set incidental to movement of the stud that is under hand control through a lever (36- secured thereto. whichlever is provided with a connecting rod 67 that extends upward within reach of the rider.

The sprm'ket-wheel 9. as shown by Fig. 4. is in hnk'belt connection wit-h a second sprocket-wheel 8 tnounted in the usual manner upon the frame and provided with operating cranks (39 adapted to be rotated by footv power. it being understood that the cranks carry pedals not shown.

In the operation of my variable speed gear. if the cranks were propelled in a for- 'ard direction as indicated by the arrow in full lines. the sprocket-wheel Stwill move in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. This movetnent will cause the friction face 1-3 of the nut to engage the friction face 30 of the hearing-head 29 and tlms said hearing-head. being connected by the tieholts to the pulley-hub. will be locked and rotated with the sprocket 9 and its sleeve 10. The wheel-hub in this instance. will also be rotated with the pulley-huh due to the locking engagetnent etfected by the coiled springs 60. which are now free to act upon the nest of friction rings indicated by the character A. This movement cranks the engine in the usual manner. which. after starting. imparts direct drive to the clutched members. Assuming that the operator will now stop pedaling and hold the cranks in the position as shown at W in dotted lines in Fig. 4. the cranks and sprocket-wheel 9 will cause the nut 12. which :has been engaged with the friction face 30 of the head. to be rotated slightly upon the threaded section and thus automatically disengage or break its connection between said head .and sprocket-sleeve 10. The wheel-huh and pulley-huh will now rotate together due to the spring-locked clutch connection A between the members. Should the operator de ire to free his engine. it can be effected by a slight back pedal movement. which movement. for example. would place the cranks m the posttion shown in full lines as indicated by X.;

This will cause theparts to assume. the position as shown in Fig. 1. the back pedal movement having caused the nut 12 to move toward the center of the lmh for a distance suttictentto ettect a clutching engagement l'vetween the friction faces 13 and 14. respectively of said nut and block 15. 'lhemovement is also suthcient to cause a slight lat- '-eral displacement of the block 15' in the same direction. carrying with it the shell 16. The .said movement acts upon the disk 24. whereby the spring-locked clutch A of the 'wheel-l-mb is released. Thus the wheel-hub is disconnected from the pulley and the engine thereby freed.

The next operation would be for the pur pose of throwing in the low speed. which operation is as follows: A further back pedal movement to the position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. marked Y. will cause the engaged nutfand block tomove in the 'same direction for .a predetermined distance. but prior to this last movement the flange '20 of the shell has engaged the. adjacent hub end of the gear-wheel 39 and consequently the instant said last named movement of the block takes place it permits the full force of the spring to act through the flange :20 directly upon said gear-wheel. As previously stated. the intial pressure of the coiled spring is approximately fifty pounds and this pressure is sufficient to cause a locking engagement of the clutch mechanism as indicated at B. which mechanism comprises the friction rings 40 and 41 contained within the gear wheel hub. whereby said gear-wheel is locked against rotation. The pulley-huh. being free to turn. as indicated by the arrow in Fig. will cause rotation of the pinions 51 in the direction ofthe arrow. due to their travel about the now fixed gear-wheel 39. The pinions 51 transmit motion to the pinions 50 in the direction as indicated by the arrow. which tnotion is. in turn. transmitted to thc internal gear 49. causing the same to rotate in a reversed direction from that of the pulley. This hack gear (O'llnt-tlltlll will cause the wheel-hub to rotate in a forward direction at. approximately half the speed of the pulley-hub. due to the fact thatv the pinions carried thereby are making two revolutions about the common axis. while they are imparting movement to the wheel-huh in a reversed direction at half the speed. The planetary gear movement when thus put into commission causes the machine to travel at half speed with a prtmortiouate increase in power for ett'ecting a drive connection when hill climbing. or power is needed in preference to speed.

The fourth hack pedal movement. as indicated at Z. Fig. 4. is effected to accomplish an emergency brake operation. whereby the engine may he stopped by an overload. The last hack pedal movement in the same direction as those previously described. will I cause the block lt'rto move still further and compress the spring 2 contained therein, which spring pernn'ts this farther movement.

while the shelLlG remains in the position previously assumed. In efi'ecting this last will act as a brake upon the engine which had previously been imparting motion to the drive and driven member at difi'erent speeds.

Itis understood that when the drive and driven member are locked together for high speed that there is no movement between the back gear connection of said parts, the same being rotated together while the gear-wheel 39 revolves loosely upon its bearing-rings 37 and 38 respectively, while in the case of emergency clutch operation whereby the engine is stopped, the result is obtained owing to the fact that the gear-wheel 39 is also locked against rotation and "hence in the emergency brake operation all of the .parts are locked through their several connections to the non-rotatory axle.

As shown in Fig. 1. the sprocket wheel 9 is preferably provided with a friction member 9, which member, in this instance. comprises a spring that is secured to the forked tube 2 and adapted to exert pressure upon the face of said sprocket wheel. By utilizing a device of this character the sprocketwheel is held by the friction resistance and therefore prevented from loose movement incidental to rotation of the adjacent parts of the clutch. which movement would tend to act upon the nut 12 and thereby displace the same from its set position.

I claim:

1: A variable speed gearing comprising a fixed axle. a drive-memher having a clutchface. and a driven-member, each being revolubly mounted about the axle. a threaded sleeve section rcvolnl'ily mounted about said axle. a longitudinally shiftable. nut engag ing the sleeve threads, the nut having oppositely disposed clutch-faces, one of which is adapted to engage with the clutch-face of the drive-member when'the nut is moved in one direction. a non-rotatory slidable block mounted about the axle for engagement with the. other clutch-face of the nut when the latter is moved in the opposite direction from that aforesaid, a spring-locked clutch mechanism connecting the drive and driven members. means carried by the slidable block for cti'ecting release of the springlocked clutch mechanism incidental to cngagement. of the block with the aforesaid nut, an exteriorly toothed gear-wheel revolnbly mounted about the axle, a clutch for the gttll'-\\'ll0t'l, means carried by said block for actuating the gear-wheel clutch, wherehv said gear-wheel is held against rotation incidental to a further movement. of the aforesaid block after the same has effected its releasing movement with relation to the spring-locked clutch mechanism. an internally toothed gear-wheel carried by the driven member. and a gear train carried by the drive member engageable with the internally and exteriorly toothed gear-wheels.

.2. A variable speed gearing comprising a fixed axle, a drive member having a clutch face and a driven member each revolubly mounted about the axle, a threaded sleeve section revolubly mounted about said axle, a manually actuated sprocket wheel secured thereto. a longitudinally shiftable nut having oppositely disposed friction clutch faces mounted upon the sleeve threads, one of which clutch-faces is adapted to engage the clutch-face of the drive member when the nut is moved in one direction. a no'n-rotatory slidable block mounted about the axle having affliction clutch face for engagement with the other friction clutch face of the nut when the latter is moved in the. oppo- 'site direction from that aforesaid, .a springlocked friction clutch mechanism connecting the drive and driven members, releasing means for the spring-locked clutch mechanism carried by the slidable block incidental to movement of said block by the nut, an extcriorly toothed gear-wheel revolubly mounted about the axle, a friction clutch mechanism connecting the toothed gearwheel and fixeal axle, setting means carried by said block for the clutch mechanism between said toothed gear-whecl and axle incidental to a further movement of the aforesaid block after the same has effected its releasing movement of the spring-locked clutch mechanism, an internally toothed gear-wheel carried by the driven member, and a gear train carried by the drive member cugageable with the internally and extcriorly toothed gear-wheels.

A variable speed gearing comprising a fixed axle, a drive-member having a clutchface, and a driven-member, each revolubly mounted about the axle, a threaded sleeve section revolubly mounted about said axle, a longittnlinally shiftable nut in threaded engagement with the sleeve, the nut having oppositely disposed clutch-faces, one Of which is adapted to engage the clutclnface of the drive-member when the nut in moved in one direction, a non-rotatory slidablo shell carried by the axle. an independently slidable block mounted upon the shell for engagement with theother clutch-face of the nut when the latter is moved in the opposite direction frorn; tl1ataforesaid, a longitndlniilly tXl mll'Sili-ld spring interposed between one end of the shell and block, means carried by said shell or holding the spring under a predetermined compression. a

the drive and driven members. releasing means for the spring-locked clutch -arried 1 by the sl dable hlovk. an exteriorly toothed gear-wheel revolubly mounted about the axi c. clut h mechanism connecting the gearwheel and axle. means carried by the aforeh t 'veen the toothed gear-wheel and axle. an internally toothed gear-wheel carried by the the drive member eugageable with the iiiternally and exteriorly toothed gear wheels. 4. variable speed gearing comprising a ,fixed axle. a drive-meniber having a clutch face. and a driven-nieinber. each being revolubly mounted about the axle. a threaded vgsaidblock for setting the clutch mechanism I a slidahle lrlock mounted upon said shell adapted to be engaged by the nut when the spring-lo ketl clutch mechanism connecting latter is moved by the sleeve in the o iposit'e direction fromthat aforesaid. a spring interposed between the block and shell. a springreleased clutch nre-fliai'tisnt between the drive and driven -n:einl.=er.. engaging means carried l;y the aforesaid bloclt for the spriii-r-locked and spring-ieleascd clutch. ine-hanisms. internally toothed gear-wheel carried b v the driven member. and a gca rain carried by the drive member enga cabie with the interdriven member. and a gear t-rain carried by lttlrly sleeve section i'cvt'tlubly mounted about said ax'ze. a longitudinally shiftable nut mounted j upon the threaded sleeve. the nut having; oppositely disposed fricti n faces. one of' which of the drive-meinher. a non-rotatory slidis adapted to engage the friction face able shell carried by said axle having block retaining flanges extending therefrom. an indcpeinlcutly slidahle block mounted upon the shell between the hlock-retaining 'tiangcs. the block being provided with a frictionfac' adapted to engage the other fl'ltilflllface of the nut. a loi'igitudinally cxpansihle spring interposed between one ofthe shell flanges and block. a spring loclted clutch mechanism and a spring released clutch mechanism connecting the drive and driven ]lt(l1!l)t1s.- actuating mechanism for the spring-docked and spring-released clutch mechanisms carried by the slidableblock. an exteriorly toothed gear-wheel rcvolubly mounted about the axle. clutch mechanism coitiicctili! the exteriorly toothed gearwheel and axle adapted to be actuated hv the afore aid shell. an internally tootheil' gear-wheel carried by the driven member.

drive-wheel and axle.

nally and extei ioi'ly toothed gear-wheels.

(3. A variabi'e peed gearing comprising a fixed axle. a driveaneniber having a clutchface and a driven-ineinl er. each being revomounted about the axle. a threaded sleeve section revolnbly mounted about said axle. a longitudinally sliiftable nut mounted.

upon the sleeve threads having oppositely dispo ed clutch-faces. one of which is adapt ed to engage the clutclnface of the drivei'neinher when said not ismoved in one direc tion. a 1lU1-)-]'t ttlltll' ltlZlllh block mounted about the axle for engagement with the not when the latter is moved in the opposite di rection from. that aforesaid. a spiangdocited clutch mechanism connecting the drive and driven members. n t'atts carried by the slid able block for eli'ccting release of the springlocked clutch me hanism incidental to en" gageinent of the bloclc with the aforesaid nut. a drive-wheel revolubly ii'iountcd about the axle. a clutch mechanism connecting the actuating means; for the clutchmechanisnrcarried by said block whereby the drive-wheel is locked against rotationincidental to a further movement of the aforesaid block after the same has efdriven fected mechanism. an internally faced wheel carried by the driven mem er.

; and ti'aiisniissit'in wheels carried by the drive and a gear train carried by the drive ineinher engagaible Will! the internally and extcriorly toothed gear wheels.

5. A variable speed gearing comprising a I fixed axle. a drive member and a driven member revolubly mounted about ill axle. the drive-member being provided with a clutch-face. a spring-locked clutch mechanism between the driv and driven members. .inanually ope 'ative threaded sleeve. :1 shiftable clutch nut carried by the threw-led sleeve for etl'ecting loclt'iug engagement with the clutch face of the drive member when the sleeve is operated in one direction. a. longitinlinally movable shell supported by the axle. an exteriorly toothed gear-wheel rotatably mounted about the axle. a clutch mechanism connecting the exteriorly toothed gear-whcel and axle. actuating means for member engaging the drive-wine] and internally faced driven wheel.

T. vari.-ible-spted gearing comprising a fixed axle. a threaded sleeve section revolubly mounted upon said axle. a pulley-hub. j'oui'naled upon the axle. a bearing-lend journaled upon the sleeve having a frictionface. tie-bolts secured to the beariug-hmnl and pulley-hub. a wheel-hub loosely mountcd upon said hcai'ingd cad and pulley-hub. a nuthavingoppositely disposed friction faces mounted upon the threaded sleeve. one of which friction-faces i. adapted to engage the friction-face of the bcaringdiead. a head secured to the axle. a tiangcd shell slidably mounted upon the head. a block slidahly mounted upon the shell having a friction,

face with which the adja ent friction face of the nut is adapted to engage. a coiled' spring interposed between one of the keeper flanges and shell. an exteriorly toothed gearaid clutch mechanism carried by the shell, 5' wheel rotatably mounted tipou hearings cara Y Y 97s,sso

rim] by the pulley-hub and head, a face ex- I upon opposite sides of the disk aforesaid, lending from the gear-wheel engngeabie sets of frir-tion rings carried by the wheelwith the shell, friction rings carried by said huh and interposed henveen the sets of fricgear-wheel and axle respective-h, an interlion ring;- carried by the tie-bolt? and coiled n-nlly toothedl'ing carried bv the wheel-hub, springs interposed between the diskand pill-20 a pair of oppositely diSposeJpinions mounticy-huh surrounding certain of the tie-inks. ed upon corresponding tie-bolts in meshed en- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I gngement with the toothed ringna woonflpuir have hereunto set my hand :u'Mihvnuhee in of oppositely dispowd piniom inounted'upon the vonnty of Milwaukee and State of is- 10 correspomling tie-bolts in meshed engugeconsin in the presente of two Witnesses.

ment. with the first named pnirof pinions \UI 115k Q H FY and the e.\'t eriorl toothed gear-Wheel, a loni A J i J 4 i gitudinnll movable disk carried by the $lid 'itnesses uble block for-engagementwith the disk, sets MAY Dowxm',

15 of friction rings mounted upon the tie-bolts X. E. ()LIPHAST. 

